@ Information Department IMHA
In the bid to ensure that Imo state becomes known again as the cleanest State East of Niger, the Imo State House of Assembly has moved to ensure that the State government institutes a reliable waste management system by passing a bill to establish the Eastern Waste Management Incoporated to tackle the challenges of Waste management in the State
The Majority Leader, Hon Kanayo Onyemechi, and the member representing Owerri West led the debate for the Bill titled: A BILL FOR A LAW TO REPEAL THE IMO STATE WASTE MANAGEMENT AGENCY LAW NO. 5 of 2020 AND TO ENACT A LAW ESTABLISHING THE EASTERN WASTE MANAGEMENT INCOPORATED TO ADDRESS THE WASTE MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES IN IMO STATE BY INSTITUTING A RELABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR THE OPTIMAL BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE OF IMO STATE AND FOR OTHER RELATED MATTERS
Hon. Kanayo Onyemechi reiterated that a good and reliable waste management policy had become necessary to ensure a clean environment, good health, and to avoid pandemics.
Hon. Kanayo stated that the bill under consideration has 33 sections that one the most important aspects of the Bill is the part which provides for a Public Private Partnership ( PPP) arrangement.He said that the government would now partner with a reputable private entity to finally tackle the issue of waste management in the State.
” This partnership would provide jobs for our teaming youths, embark on executing the waste to wealth initiative by recycling waste while also ensuring our streets and neighborhoods are clean and free of dirt, amongst other things” he emphasized.
Speaking in support of the Bill, the member of Mbaitoli State Constituency, Hon. Innocent Ikpamezie opinionated that the government is eager to bring back Imo State as the cleanest State in Nigeria as the bill would make way for creating a friendly and healthy environment.
Hon. Ernest Okechukwu Udeze of Ideato North State Constituency said that any State that wants to progress must embrace public private partnerships because private companies help to drive the economy.
In the words of Hon. James Uba Esile, “The government of Imo state is led by Senator Hope Uzodimma, a visionary leader and a great thinker who turns waste into wealth to create jobs for Imolites.”
Henry Agbasonu emphasized that the world is digitalized and that Section 14 subsection 3(A)- (H) of the Bill has categorized the functions of whoever will be licensed to manage your waste in Imo State He maintained that the benefits of the Bill are enormous, ranging from having a clean and healthy environment, revenue generation. He also said that recycling of waste would generate a lot of employment in the State.
The bill successfully scaled through the second reading after the Speaker put the question at the end of the debate and was committed to Committee of the whole.
The Deputy Speaker and member Representing Nwangele State Constituency,led the debate on the second bill titled
A BILL FOR A LAW TO REPEAL THE HOSPITALS MANAGEMENT BOARD EDICT NO 7 OF 1986 AND HOSPITALS MANAGEMENT (APPOINTMENT OF TASKFORCE) EDICT NO 11 OF 1987 AND TO ENACT A LAW TO ESTABLISH THE HEARTLAND HOSPITALS MANAGEMENT BOARD CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MANAGING STATE GOVERNMENT OWNED HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CENTRES FOR OPTIMAL SERVICE DELIVERY AND FOR OTHER RELATED MATTERS.
He said that the Bill has 35 Sections and 2 Schedules. He explained that the Bill would first, repeal the obsolete Edicts enacted during the military era of 1986-1987 and enact a more current and up to date law that would be in line with present day realities
The Deputy Speaker further said that the health insurance scheme rolled out by the State Government has been widely accepted in every local government, every ward, every village, and it’s working absolutely well and has been praised by all Imo citizens and that the Heartland Hospitals Management Board being established in this Bill would work hand in hand with very successful health insurance scheme for the optimal benefit of Imo people.
He also said that with the passage of the bill into law,Imo State would become the hub of medical services in the Southeast of Nigeria.
He made bold to say that the Bill has a provision for Public Private Partnership and that the partnership would pave the way for injection of necessary funds for not only the training of our health personnel from local government to state level but also for equipping our hospitals with highly sought after and important medical equipment such as MRI machines, dialysis machines etc. He said that Government alone could not do everything hence the need for the PPP arrangement as provided for in the bill.
Rt Hon Amara Iwuanyanwu called on his colleagues to support the passage of the bill for the interest of Ndi Imo.
Speaking, Hon. Gilbert Nwosu of Oguta State Constituency described the old edicts as obsolete and due for repeal and expressed excitement that the Healthcare Services in Imo state would be revamped following the passage of this bill into law as hospitals in the state keep complaining of low funding and mismanagement.
According to him,this bill, if passed, would address so many critical issues and would open the door for other states to seek better medical care from Imo state thereby boosting the State’s IGR.
Other members who spoke in support of the Bill are Hon. Francis Agabige,
Hon. Obinna Egu,
Hon. Kingsley Ozurumba and
Hon. Ikenna Ihezuo
Satisfied with contributions to the Bill, the Speaker Rt Hon. Chike Olemgbe put the question and the bill scaled through second reading.
Both bills were subsequently considered clause by clause at the Committee of the whole House and adopted
Finally ,Majority Leader moved that House of Assembly Bills 28 and 29 be read for the third time and passed.
The question was put, and House unanimously agreed that both bills be read a third time and passed.
